Louisiana registration and tax info

Having payroll issues? Learn how to troubleshoot blocked payroll

Setting up payroll in Louisiana for the first time

Before you can pay employees in a new state, you must register with the state’s tax agencies. This lets you file and pay the right taxes.

Use the dropdowns below to learn more. Use CMD + F (or CTRL + F) to search for words in the article.

Louisiana tax agencies you need to register with

To run payroll in Louisiana, you must have active accounts with:

Gusto may need third-party access (TPA) to some accounts.

How to register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (withholding tax)

Register online and get your withholding tax account number immediately. If you complete the paper application instead, you'll need to mail it in and wait.

  1. If you have not already, check if you need to register with the Secretary of State (SOS) first.
  2. Go to the DOR registration page, read the overview, and click LaTAP.
  3. Find the “Registration” tile, and click Register My Business
  4. Read the important details on the first page—what you'll need, what to expect, and who to contact with questions.
  5. Follow the prompts and complete the application.
  6. After you're registered, enter the tax details in Gusto.

Account number format:

  • Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations (7-digits): #######-001
  • Sole proprietors: Use your SSN
How to register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (unemployment tax)

Running payroll before you get your unemployment tax info

You can still run payroll even if you’re not registered or do not owe unemployment tax yet. Use Louisiana’s new employer rate for now. Update it later when you get your rate.

Register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC)

After registering, you’ll instantly get:

  • Employer Account Number
  • UI contribution rate
  • Occupational code (format: XX-XXXX)

All tax details above need to be entered in Gusto, and you'll be asked to enter Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes for Louisiana-employees.

  1. Go to the LWC registration page.
  2. Read the list of requirements, and check the box to acknowledge you have what you need to complete registration.
  3. Click Begin Application and complete the prompts.
  4. After you're registered, enter the tax details in Gusto, and give Gusto third-party access so we can help solve tax problems.

📞 Need help? Call LWC at (866) 783-5567 or (225) 326-6999

Entering your Louisiana tax info in Gusto

After you’ve added a Louisiana work address to an employee's profile:

  1. Go to Taxes & compliance and click Tax setup.
  2. Find "Louisiana Tax Setup", below the tax info, click Manage taxes.
  3. Click Edit to enter your tax account info:
    • Revenue Account Number (from DOR)
      • Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations (7-digits): #######-001
      • Sole proprietors: Use your SSN
    • Employer Account Number (from LWC)
    • UI contribution rate
  4. Click Save.

To enter an SOC code for an employee, go to their team member profile. 

⚠️ Changing account numbers after taxes are filed may cause issues. Learn how to pull reports that can help correct them.

How to find your Louisiana tax info

Revenue Account Number (withholding)

  • Look on Form L-1 (Employer's Return of Income Tax Withheld)
  • Or call the DOR at (855) 307-3893

Format of Revenue Account Number:

  • Partnerships, LLCs, and Corporations (7-digits): #######-001
  • Sole proprietors: Use your SSN

Employer Account Number (unemployment), contribution rate, and code—LA Workforce Commission

  • Look in your LWC letters
    • Liability letter, Form LDOL-ES4 (Quarterly Report of Wages Paid), etc
  • Or sign in to your LWC account
  • Or call LWC at (866) 783-5567

If you have not received your unemployment rate yet, use the new employer rate. You can update it in Gusto later.

Give Gusto third-party access for this agency so we can help solve tax problems.

SOC codes

To enter an SOC code for an employee, go to their team member profile. 

Giving Gusto third-party authorization (TPA)

Gusto needs access to your Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) account to help keep your info up-to-date and help with tax questions.

What to know

  • You will not be able to give us TPA until we’ve submitted an enrollment first—this typically takes place during the first week of any month.
  • If you do not have the option to give Gusto TPA after the 8th of any given month, wait until the following month (when we submit enrollments again) to try again.

To give Gusto TPA access to your LWC account:

  1. Sign in to your LWC account.
  2. Find "Employer Services", click Manage Power of Attorney.
  3. Click the Link Agent Account tab.
  4. Enter the email address connected to the business, and click verify email address
  5. Enter this info:
    • Agent Login Access Code: EZ3ZUWIS
    • Gusto FEIN: 453942850
  6. Give Gusto access to:
    • File quarterly wage and tax reports
    • View quarterly wage and tax reports and payments made
    • Make payments
    • View tax rate notices
  7. Click Confirm Agent & Assign Access.
  8. Check off the task in Gusto when done—go to your Home page and click the the to-do titled Give Gusto access to your Louisiana Workforce Commission account.
  9. Check the box, click Submit.

Learn how to close or reopen tax accounts here.